#dragonchen

When Meng Yao found the snake, the mother-of-pearl luster of its scales was largely concealed by mud and caked blood, but Meng Yao had always had an eye for treasure. He’d poked it, found it cold as death and just as still, and put it in his satchel. Back home he’d poked it again, then washed it with warm water in preparation for gutting and skinning. Only then, it had suddenly flailed in his grasp and shoved itself inside the open collar of Meng Yao’s robes with supernatural speed. 

Meng Yao had enough composure not to scream, but the cold, wet slithering against his chest made him yelp. He hurried to disrobe and pull out the wiggling intruder, then tossed it on his bed across the room. 

So it was not dead, and apparently not a snake, either - once it landed on the thin covers, the creature seemed to produce diminutive limbs and minuscule clawed hands. It blinked its eyes a few times, then began… wringing said hands in a semblance of embarrassment, at a guess. 

“My deepest apologies,” it said, in a reedy, crystalline voice, “I was in a deep state of unconsciousness and my body acted on its own.” 

“And you slipped inside my clothes?” Meng Yao clarified, still a little ruffled.

“It was warm,” the not-snake agreed, bowing its head. Someone had tied a white string around a pair of diminutive horns on its pointy head - Meng Yao had never seen an animal of this kind before, an he found himself quickly going from bafflement to intrigue. 

“But that is no excuse for intruding on your person,” the tiny thing continued. “Especially when I owe you my life. How can I make it up to you, Young Master?” Somehow, the slim creature folded itself into a decent-looking bow.

Meng Yao couldn’t help a small chuckle. This noodle had better manners than any of the people he dealt with on a regular basis.

“No harm done,” he said, leaning forward on his hands and knees. “And to whom am I speaking, Master Snake?”

“I am not a snake,” the animal corrected him, without ire. ”But I fear I cannot disclose my identity at this time. Please, call me however you prefer.”

“Shall I address you as Master Noodle, then?” Meng Yao teased, reaching out carefully to pick it up in his cupped hands.

“That would be fine,” the noodle said, with great dignity. “I am in your debt and at your mercy.” 

MORE shiome collab. this time peayao and dragonchen

Chapters: 11/11 Words: 37.220 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lán Huàn | Lán Xīchén/Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo, Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo & Sū Shè | Sū Mǐnshàn Additional Tags: Arranged Marriage, AU - Canon Divergence, Mythical Beings & Creatures, Romance, Misunderstandings, Abduction, Captivity, POV Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo, Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo-centric, every hour is sad Meng Shi feels hour, Slow Burn, Falling In Love, canon-typical depictions of sex work, Memory Alteration, Angst with a Happy Ending, Light Angst, it's all Jin Guangshan's fault, dragon!Lans, Podfic Welcome, Dragons, Shapeshifting, dragon!lan xichen

Jin Guangyao is thrown down the stairs at Jinlin Tai, but this time there is a dragon waiting for him.

written for @mdzsrbb​ 2022

Noodle Lan dragons doing Prairie dog greeting behaviors like "ya-HOO"-ing and giving kisses. JGY is not naked I promise

Edit: I found the video for example of the ya-HOOS

more Lan dragons with baby seal stuff

“What is that?” Wen Ruohan asks, pointing at Meng Yao’s glittering necklace. 

Meng Yao smiles in a calculated mix of proud and demure, as if trying not to appear smug in front of his liege but not quite managing.  “Dragon scale, my lord. I once ripped it off the First Jade of Lan.” 

He lets Wen Ruohan interpret that as he pleases - and after a moment of surprise, he is rewarded with a glint of knowing appreciation that bolsters and reassures him both. 

“Does my master wish for it?” he asks, hurriedly, because it is better to offer than to have something taken. “I would not dare to keep—“

“No, no. That you live to tell the tale is proof enough that you’ve earned it,” Wen Ruohan waves his hand, magnanimous as only the powerful can be. “We all keep trophies. I was beginning to think your workshop was almost too clean, Meng Yao, but I see now that it is because your interest lies with dragons, not humans.”

Meng Yao lifts his eyes into a feverish, covetous gaze that is far too truthful. “I dream of putting my hands on the whole beast one day, my lord.”

Wen Ruohan laughs, slapping the armrest of his throne in a ringing of jewels and steel. “So rarely you ask for things, Meng Yao! If we capture Zewu-jun or one of his flight, you shall have him. Just make sure to extract all he knows before you make a cloak out of him.”

“I would not waste such an opportunity, sect Leader. Your generosity is too much for this humble one.” Meng Yao falls into a kowtow, concealing the rapid blinking of his lashes, the way his breaths want to chase each other in fright.